Combined coffin-truck



{No Model.) 2 Sheets-Snead W. RSHAW. COMBINED UOPEIN TRUCK, ,EMBALMING TABLE, &o. No. 573,323. Patented Dec; '15; 1896.

WITIVZ'SSES: lNVE/VTUR 2 6W ATTORNEHQ.

(No Mod l.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 2.-

win SHAW, COMBINED GOFFIN TRUCK, EMBAILMING TABLE, 850.

No. 573,303; Patented Dec. 15, 1896.

UNITED \VILLIAM F. SI-IAIV, OF COLUMBUS, OHIO, ASSIGNOR OF THREE-FOURTIIS TO NOAH T. SHAIRCHARLES IV. CRITCIIFIEIID, AND ORLANDO IV. ALDRICH,

OF FRANKLIN COUNTY, OHIO.

COMBINED COFFIN=TRUCK, EMBALMlNG -TABLE, o.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 573,308, dated December 15, 1896.

Application filed May 12,1896- Serial No. 591,256. (No model.)

To to whom it-ma z cancer-m.-

Be it known that I, ILLIAM F. SHAW, a citizen of the United States, residing at Columbus, in the county of Franklin and State of Ohio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in a Combined Embalming-Tm ble, Pedestal. and Coffin-Truck; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

The object of my invention is to provide an improved combination embalming-tableQ pedestal, and truck for use in treating and handling a corpse and coffin which shall be of simple and economical construction and which may be folded into compact form for convenient transportation.

My invention consists in the novel features of construction hereinafter set forth and claimed.

In the accompanying drawings, illustrating an embodiment of my improvements, Figure 1 is a side elevation of the device open for use. Fig. 2 is a side view of the device folded. Fig. 3 is a perspective view of the under side. Figs. 4 and 5 are details showing the mode of connecting one pair of the rollers to the legs. Fig. 6 is a view of a supplemental support. Fig. 7 is a bottom plan View of my improved foot-rest. Fig. 8 is a sectional view of the same 011 the line a: a: of Fig. 7. Fig. 9 is a side elevation of the foot-rest removed from the table.

Like characters of reference in the different views designate corresponding parts.

The table proper consists of two rectangular parts or frames 1 and 1, hinged so as to fold flat together. The frame 1 has an opening in which is hinged another frame 2 to elevate or incline the upper part of the corpse. This frame 2 is supported at different degrees of inclination by a bracing-frame 3, pivoted in the end of part 1, which engages notches on the under side of the frame 2. The supporting-legs 5 and 5 are joined in pairs by a rung 6 and are hinged to the under side of the parts or frames 1 and 1, respectively, so as to fold longitudinally therein. The feet of the legs 5 are provided with rubber-tired rollers or wheels, the spindles of which are simply swiveled in the legs, and the feet of the legs 5 are provided with similarly-tired rollers, but the spindles and their sockets of these legs 5 are constructed so that the rollers or wheels may be readily fixed to stand either at right angles to the plane of the frames 1 and 2 or in a plane parallel thereto. In Figs. 4 and 5 I have shown a construction whereby these wheels or rollers of the legs 5 may be so fixed. In these views a designates the spindle, which is provided with a laterallyprojecting pin 1). The socket for the spindle is designated by the letter 0, and this has two longitudinal grooves cl standing ninety degrees apart. The pin on the spindle fits in either of these grooves, and by pulling the spindle out and giving it a turn it may be pushed back into either groove and so adjust the wheel for folding or standing posit-ion.

The legs 5 have pivoted thereto brace-rods 7, at the ends of which are pins 8 to engage the sides of the hinged parts 1 and 1' of the table. These rods serve the double function of holding the table in fiat position and the leg upright thereunder. Near the end of the part 1 of the table is hinged what might be called a false leg 9, which does not quite touch the floor when the table is standing on the legs 5 and 5. The purpose of this false leg is to prevent such an extreme tipping of the table as would precipitate its contents to the floor. The false leg 9 and the legs 5 at the opposite end of the table are held in upright position by means of rods 10 and 10, hinged in the ends of the parts or frames 1 and 1. The rods 10 and 10 have a coil-spring 11 connecting them, so that when the parts 1 and 1 are flattened out it is stretched, thereby giving sufficient tension to hold the hooked ends of the rods 10 down upon the edge of the rung or upon the edge provided for the engagement of the hook of the rod. \Vhen the legs are folded down into the parts of the frame, they may be held there by a hook 12, engaging an eye 13 011 the lower edge of the rung.

here it is desired to spread a curtain or sheet over the corpse, a post 14 may be stuck into each of the four corners of the table, and

, legs and the tilted end of the table.

for this purpose small angle-irons, in connection with a mortise in the corner of the table, will suffice to provide the sockets. hen the posts are not in use, they are stowed in springloops, substantially as shown at the under side of the part 1 of the table.

A small latch or catch on the end of the parts 1 and 1 may be employed to secure the parts together when folded.

In some instances I shall put in the place of the false leg a pair of legs like that shown in Fig. 7. These shall be hinged to the part 1 in the same manner as the false leg, so as to fold up into said part. They will also be of such length as to reach quite to the floor and perhaps very slightly longer than the legs 5 or 5, so that when they are turned down and fastened with the bar or rod 10 the table or truck shall stand firmly. V

The inclining frame may be dispensed with. I11 this event the entire body may be inclined by tilting the table upon the legs 5, the center of gravity being thrown between the said In this case also a foot-rest will be provided to prevent the corpse from slipping down off the board.

The great advantage of my improved device will be apparent to undertakers, for whose use it is primarily intended. With it the body of the deceased may be moved with great ease by one person from one room to another through narrow halls or passage-ways. In the funeral services it affords a convenient truck for the handling and movement of the coffin or casket either in the house or in the church, doing away with a large part of the services of pallbearers and the inconveniences to them.

My improved foot-rest is composed of a base or sliding portion 15 and a part 15, hinged thereto, adapted to be folded flatly down thereupon. The folding part has a brace or supporting rod 16 hinged thereto, which is provided with a slot 10, through which passes a pin 17 in the base or sliding part of the foot-rest. The slotted rod permits the folding of the hinged part of the foot-rest against the base portion and supports or sustains said folding part in its upright position. The base of sliding port-ion 15 of the foot-rest is made with flanges 18 on its opposite parallel edges which fit to slide in guides or grooves in the lower part of the embalming-table formed by the curved edges of metallic strips 19 and 19, screwed to the under side of the edges of an opening in the table. The edge of one of the strips, 19, for example, is made with teeth to be engaged by a spring-actuated pin 20, supported in. a perforated projection 21 on the under side of the base or slidingpart of the foot-rest. The pin has seen red to it a finger-piece 22, by means of which the pin may be disengaged from the teeth, thus permitting the sliding portion to be adjusted in one direction or the other, according to the length of the corpse.

\Vhat I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. I11 a combined embalming-table, pedes tal, and coffin-truck, a table composed of hinged parts or sections 1 and 1, legs 5 hinged to the outer end of section 1, legs 5 hinged to one of said sections at or near the middle of the table having their lower ends provided with sockets 0 having longitudinal grooves d standing ninety degrees apart, and rollers for said legs having spindles a with projecting pins Z) for engaging said grooves whereby the said rollers may be fixed on said legs to stand in a plane parallel to the side of the table or in a plane at right angles thereto, rollers swiveled to the legs 5, the said legs with their rollers being thereby adapted to be folded within the sections of the table, a false leg or support 9 hinged to the outer end of and adapted to be folded against section 1, means for holding all of said legs in standing or upright position, and a foot-rest consisting of a guideway on the table having a toothed edge 19, a base portion 15 having a pin 17, said base portion sliding in the guideway, a foot-resting part 15 hinged to said base portion 15 having a slotted ro'd engaging and guided by the aforesaid pin 17 to be extended and held horizontally in the plane of the part 15 when the latter is folded upon part 15, and a bolt 20 with a spring for holding the same normally in engagement with the toothed edge 19, substantially as shown and described.

2. The combination with an embahning-table, of afoot-rest comprising a guideway on the table having a toothed edge 19, a base portion 15 havinga pin 17, said base portion sliding in the guideway, a foot-resting part 15 hinged to said base portion 15 having a slotted rod 16 engaging and guided by the aforesaid pin 17 to be extended and held horizontally in the plane of the part 15 when the latter is folded upon the part 15, and a bolt 20 with a spring for holding the same normally in engagement with the toothed edge 19, substantially as shown and described.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in. presence of two witnesses.

XVILLIAM F. SIIA\V. lVitnesses:

JAs. S. RIoKET'rs, Gno. M. 'FINoKEL.

IlO 

